UK university confers doctorate on A R Rahman

London: Oscar-winning music maestro A R Rahman has been conferred with an Honorary Doctorate by a leading UK University for his outstanding contributions, a week after Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan was honoured by another prestigious British varsity.

The Vice Chancellor of the Middlesex University in Hendon in London, Professor Michael Driscoll presented the Honorary Degree on Rahman.

Rahman, who won two Academy Awards for the music of hit film Slumdog Millionaire, also signed a Memorandum of Understanding between his K M Music Conservatory in Chennai and the University.

PET PROJECT: A R Rahman wants to blend Asian and Western musical styles.

After receiving the honour, Rahman said "It is an enormous honour to belong to this great seat of learning."

"My journey as a musician started at the age of nine and I see music as a way to connect to spirituality and embrace it. Music touches people and breaks down barriers, creating harmony in troubled times. This has always been my

philosophy," Rahman said.

A spokeswoman of the Middlesex University said on Friday that the MoU focused on educational collaboration between India and the UK. The two organisations have agreed to explore the possibilities for collaboration in music and education and to support one of Rahman's 'pet projects', that of the